A daily update of what is healthy, natural and beautiful at the '3rd Best Spa in America'

Wow, what a week. Monday was a pretty good day as the US owner of German Footcare powerhouse Gehwol, Johnny Jarufe, came to Pittsburgh to conduct a fantastic training seminar for my staff. Tuesday brought Shanon Hoffman, the publisher of Healing Lifestyles & Spa Magazine into my life in a whirlwind of positive collaboration. And today, I found out that Dr. Oz was on Oprah yesterday explaining the benefits of using sunscreen and skincare products that contain Niacin to combat and prevent sun damage.

Whoopee! Why am I so happy, because about 6 months ago, while I was researching new skincare breakthroughs, I came across a company called Niadyne that makes Nia24 skincare products and after some rigorous testing, made an exclusive deal to use them at ESSpa Kozmetika. These amazingly effective products provide just what the doctor ordered, literally. Here is what Dr. Oz (and Dr. Evans) told Oprah (and the millions watching on TV) about the importance of Niacin for restoring and maintaining beautiful skin.

Dr. Oz says there are three other things you need to do to make sure your skin is beautiful. The first key is making sure you get plenty of vitamins A, C and E—through diet and nutrient-rich creams. “Those are the key antioxidant vitamins. But they’re also important, especially vitamin A, because they block some of the bad things happening underneath,” he says. “And they help rejuvenate—turn on cells that make more collagen, make more elastin—to give you that bounciness that you want.”

Dr. Evans says vitamin A is especially important for healthy skin. “It can make real transitions in the beginning. In fact, some of the damage you’ve already done—it can turn back the clock,” she says. “You see it in retinol forms. Pretty much anything like a retinyl or retinoic acid or retin is a form of vitamin A.”

Another nutrient you need is niacin, which prevents melanin from reaching the skin and reduces the production of the staining compound. Dr. Oz says you can also use natural licorice extract to slow the creation of melanin.

The third key part of a healthy skin routine is exfoliation. “Sun spots are stuck in the skin, so if you stop making new ones, your body rubs off the old levels,” Dr. Oz says. “That’s basically what exfoliation is, but you do it naturally. We shed dozens of pounds of skin a year. … And your body will shed those sun-damaged areas.”

Among the hundreds of ingredients in skincare products, only a few make a real difference. These three have the best scientific backing:

Vitamin A (retinol, retinoic acid or Retin-A, retinyl propionate, and retinaldehyde): In its various forms, vitamin A increases elastin, collagen, and the natural moisturizer hyaluronic acid in the skin. It’s the only thing you can apply to repair sun damage, giving you a smoother, less wrinkled complexion.

Vitamin C: Also stimulates collagen and elastin growth and helps thwart free radicals. (Vitamin C rapidly breaks down when exposed to light and oxygen, so the jar should be opaque and kept sealed.)

Vitamin E: An antioxidant, vitamin E acts to slow wrinkle production. Some research suggests it may also help protect against skin cancer. (Must be in the form of DL-alpha-tocopherol to make a difference, so read the ingredients on the label.)

I know, what about the other ingredients that were mentioned – Dr. Oz said you need more than just Niacin in order to get the best results right? Well, I am happy to say that our Nia24 Products not only contain Niacin (in a concentration that will actually have an effect – this is important because most “drug-store” cosmetics contain so little active ingredients that even the most expensive have no more effect than if you put the cheapest cream on your face”) but they also contain Licorice Root, Sodium Hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid, necessary for hydrated skin); Barley and Tomato (gotta love Lycopene); and an easily absorbed, liposome form of Vitamins A, C and E.

In addition to all of the other wonderful organic cosmetic products we offer, ESSpa Kozmetika uses the following niacin-based Nia24 products in our special sun-damaged skin treatments (and they are also available for home-use):

100% Mineral Sunscreen – An effective sunscreen that contains zinc oxide and NOT a stew of chemical compounds that might have a long-term negative impact on your skin’s health.Gentle Cleansing Cream – The perfect way to clean even the most sensitive or sun-damaged skin.Physical Cleansing Scrub – A very effective and safe way to thoroughly clean your skin.Skin Strengthening Complex – A powerful treatment to bring tired, dry, dull skin back to life.Intensive Recovery Complex – Contains the highest percentages of all the key nutrients for incredible results.Eye Repair Complex – A cream with the proper amounts of ingredients that produce results without irritating the sensitive orbital area.

With the summer in full-swing, I encourage you to call (412) 782-3888 or send an email to helpme@esspa.com and make an appointment for a complimentary consultation so that I can examine your skin and determine what (if any) sun damage your skin has been subjected to and come up with a plan to turn back the hands of time and help you look younger and healthier.